Floor time

[Loveatfirstwheek]

Hello!

How important is floor time? Is it actually beneficial or enriching? I have 6 girls in a 5x4 cage with a loft. I’ve started to do floor time a few times now. The end result is always the same… they hide underneath the couch and need a little motivation to get out. I’ve tried boxes with hay and put them out. The girls will eventually come out and have a sticky nose but always end up back in those hard to reach places. They also are always soaked in each others pee!

Any input/ideas would be appreciated


Oh I also have 2 boys who are 4 years old in a 2x8 cage on the other side of my flat away from the girls. I haven’t had them long but I read you shouldn’t have the floor time in the same space the girls have previously been? Because of smells?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Floor time is nice but not essential if they have a big cage and enough enrichment and mental stimulation in the cage.

Piggies don’t really like new spaces - they may start to enjoy floor time, they may not. Really it’s up to you whether you think it is actually benefitting them or just stressing them out.

My piggies live in my shed and in winter they don’t get out of their cages at all due to the wet and cold outside (in summer they spend every day on the lawn). I just make sure to give extra and different enrichment during winter to make up for not getting the enrichment of coming into grass.

You don’t want the boys anywhere near the girls or their smells. Smelling girls can cause the boys to fight.

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

Floor time is nice but not essential if they have a big cage and enough enrichment and mental stimulation in the cage.

Piggies don’t really like new spaces - they may start to enjoy floor time, they may not. Really it’s up to you whether you think it is actually benefitting them or just stressing them out.

My piggies live in my shed and in winter they don’t get out of their cages at all due to the wet and cold outside (in summer they spend every day on the lawn). I just make sure to give extra and different enrichment during winter to make up for not getting the enrichment of coming into grass.

You don’t want the boys anywhere near the girls or their smells. Smelling girls can cause the boys to fight.

Thank you! Tbh I think the floor time is traumatising them more than enriching them. I’ll do it for a few more times I think but if the result is the same I’ll quit it. I really appreciate your input!

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

Thank you! Tbh I think the floor time is traumatising them more than enriching them. I’ll do it for a few more times I think but if the result is the same I’ll quit it. I really appreciate your input!

How big is your lawn run and how many fluffy potatoes have you got?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m down to two boys now. (The other pair of boys passed away last year). (I also have a pair of rabbits so I do still have my hands full!)
The two boys I have are 3 years old but they live separately due to fighting with each other.
They each have their own run and each one measures 6x4ft.